We are in the middle of wonderful-summer. This is a time of year that I personally look forward to during the cold, wet months of November and February. To be out in the world, not bundled up against the elements, to enjoy the health benefits of the sunshine, and the fresh air, road trips and of course, watermelon for dinner.

There is quite a bit of misinformation about how sunlight works with our bodies, perpetuated by the misled medical community. The latest research is showing that sunscreen is loaded with toxic chemicals that do more harm to our systems than good, and that sunlight is REQUIRED for a health immune system, not the Big Bad Wolf. So let me begin by telling you that your dermatologist will get angry with my point of view, but that this point of view is based on how our physiology ACTUALLY works, and has been tried and tested by many, and published in peer-reviewed journals over the past several years.

I am not about to tell you that getting sunburned is a good idea, or without side effects. Indeed, repeated burns ARE an indication that we are at higher risk for developing skin cancer. BUT! Our bodies need VASTLY more than 20 minutes of sun exposure a day to make enough vitamin D, especially in the northeast, where the sunlight is weak 70% of the year. Vitamin D levels exceed 10,000 i.u.’s a day when we are in the sun enough, and this is a GOOD thing. Besides storing it for winter months, the extra vitamin D fights cancer, keeps us healthy now, balances brain chemistry and more! This is big stuff, guys. We need sunlight.

Sunscreen actually blocks the weaker rays of the sun that will lay down a protective “base tan” and prevent burned skin. The stronger rays can still penetrate the sunscreen (and do), thus moving right through the superficial layers of the skin, to the deeper layers, where there is less cell turn over, and more room for cell mutation (cancer) to occur. The chemicals from the sunscreen seep into your skin, and cause inflammation in your system as well. All the buzz in the health world is about inflammation these days. Essentially, inflammatory chemicals, when numerous in the blood for a long period of time, make a nice environment for things like cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes. When we decrease inflammation, we decrease risk for ALL disease and pain. Bottom line: tan safely, over time, and you’re safer than if you only get a slight tan because you’re always slathered in SPF 30.

There are plenty of ways to do it SAFELY so we don’t burn, and we don’t need to use the toxic junk found in ordinary sunscreens.

Here’s how:

Take extra calcium lactate 30 minutes prior to sun exposure, and then every 1-2 hours again, while out in the sun. Why? Our bodies need calcium to USE that lovely sunlight and activate vitamin D. When we burn, it’s actually our bodies telling us we are too low on blood levels of calcium to continue to function and feel good at the same time. Ever been sick, or exhausted after too much sun? That’s one of the main reasons, along with dehydration. Oh, and yes, the type of calcium matters. Calcium lactate has an extremely high rate of absorption, so you know that when you take it, it works. If you can’t find it, call the office, as I stock it in large bottles during summer months.

Take extra fish oil before you go out. It’s great for supporting skin health, and is amazing at preventing burns even in the most sensitive skins.

Don’t go out during “peak sun hours” if you have NO base tan, or are very fair, for more than 45 minutes to an hour without extra calcium and water.

Bring sleeves and shade, so that if you feel that slight painful start of a burn, you can immediately cover up. Toss some aloe in your bag, too, and rub it in along with an oil listed below, to help protect your skin.

Eat bunches of antioxidants: brightly colored vegetables, leafy greens, dark berries, and dark chocolate just to name a few. All antioxidants help in proper cell health (and programmed cell death, or apoptosis), thus preventing cancerous changes at the cellular level.

Use natural sunscreens if you are fair-skinned, and worried about over-exposure. The picture below will help you find some suitable ingredients, or you can shop at your local health food store (in Leominster: Roots Natural Foods) and find a good one.

See your chiropractor regularly to ensure that your immune system is functioning properly and your body can heal as fast as possible if you do get a burn of some sort.

And of course, treat your skin with respect. Your skin is your largest organ, and is a major player in detoxification and your body’s defense system. Don’t abuse it, and if any of this information is confusing to you, call the office to schedule some time to have your questions answered.

Here are some natural sunscreens, and you can look online for recipes to make your own:

Vitamin D, also called the “sunshine vitamin,” is both a hormone and a vitamin, manufactured in the body upon exposure to sunshine. Two biologically inactive precursors – D3 (cholecalciferol) and D2 (ergocalciferol) are transformed in the liver and kidneys. Vitamin D is essential for the regulation of serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase, and thus helps to produce and maintain bone. It has also been associated with the prevention of certain cancers, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporosis, as well as recent evidence that it leads to significant reductions in body fat mass (read more on the study here).

Since vitamin D heavily depends on sunlight exposure, the populations in some northern countries, especially in the winter months, make little to no vitamin D on their own, meaning that the need for dietary supplementation and fortified foods is necessary to meet the need. Significant vitamin D deficiency in adults is reported to precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, depression and other inflammatory process.

What can you do?

The recommended daily dietary allowance of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels is between 2,000-4,000 IUs. Additionally, there is a number of food sources that contain vitamin D:

It is important to consider the sources of the fish, such as fresh, wild-caught, non-farmed options!

Cod liver oil – remember to use clean sources without fillers!

Eggs – organic, hormone- and antibiotic-free

And of course, SUNSHINE, 15 minutes three times a week! Since vitamin D is manufactured in the body at the time of sun exposure, it is vital to spend time outside in order to allow for the conversion of the inactive precursor compounds into active form. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a concern in itself, but it is important to be conscientious and safe, as season, time of day, length of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content, and sunscreen are among the factors that affect UV radiation exposure and vitamin D synthesis.

Vitamin D, also called the “sunshine vitamin,” is both a hormone and a vitamin, manufactured in the body upon exposure to sunshine. Two biologically inactive precursors – D3 (cholecalciferol) and D2 (ergocalciferol) are transformed in the liver and kidneys. Vitamin D is essential for the regulation of serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase, and thus helps to produce and maintain bone. It has also been associated with the prevention of certain cancers, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporosis, as well as recent evidence that it leads to significant reductions in body fat mass (read more on the study here).

Since vitamin D heavily depends on sunlight exposure, the populations in some northern countries, especially in the winter months, make little to no vitamin D on their own, meaning that the need for dietary supplementation and fortified foods is necessary to meet the need. Significant vitamin D deficiency in adults is reported to precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, depression and other inflammatory process.

What can you do?

The recommended daily dietary allowance of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels is between 2,000-4,000 IUs. Additionally, there is a number of food sources that contain vitamin D:

It is important to consider the sources of the fish, such as fresh, wild-caught, non-farmed options!

Cod liver oil – remember to watch your sources!

Eggs – organic, hormone- and antibiotic-free

And of course, SUNSHINE, 15 minutes three times a week! Since vitamin D is manufactured in the body at the time of sun exposure, it is vital to spend time outside in order to allow for the conversion of the inactive precursor compounds into active form. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a concern in itself, but it is important to be conscientious and safe, as season, time of day, length of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content, and sunscreen are among the factors that affect UV radiation exposure and vitamin D synthesis.